ULAN BAATAR (July 25) – Shiga’s Yusuke KITAOKA (JPN) posted a win in the quarterfinals at 58kg but had a settle for fifth place overall as Japan got off to a slow start in greco-roman at the Asian cadet wrestling championships.
KITAOKA of Hino high school in Shiga opened with a pin over YANG Sion (KOR), but fell to eventual winner Nurzhigit TASHBOLOTOV (KGZ), 0-5, in the semifinals and then to local favorite Choigajid GANBOLD (MGL) in the bronze medal match.
Japan’s other six entries on the first day of competition did not advance beyond their opening bouts and none received a chance to wrestle in repechage.
Greco-roman
42kg – SHIMAYA, Harushi (6th, 7 entries)
R1 – lost to Behnam ABDEVALI (IRI), 3-7
46kg – TAKASE, Daiki (9th, 11 entries)
R1 – lost to Adilet TAALAIBEKOV (KGZ) by TF, 0-7 (1P)
50kg – TAKENAKA, Kazuki (8th, 8 entries)
R1 – lost to LEE Sang-Kyu (KOR) by fall, 1P=time unavailable (0-6)
54kg – SUGITANI, Kazunari (8th, 8 entries)
R1 – lost to LIN Yu-gang (TPE) by fall, 1P=time unavailable (1-7)
58kg – KITAOKA, Yusuke (5th, 8 entries)
R1 – df. YANG Sion (KOR) by fall, 1P=time unavailable (3-0)
SF – lost to Nurzhigit TASHBOLOTOV (KGZ), 0-5
F3 – lost to Choigajid GANBOLD (MGL) by fall, 1P=time unavailable (1-6)
63kg – TAKAISHI, Akira (8th, 9 entries)
R1 – bye
R2 – lost to Dinesh DINESH (IND), 1-2
69kg – SAKURABA, Kodai (7th, 8 entries)
R1 – lost to Manjeet DALAL (IND), 1-2
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